“Women can no longer afford to dismiss the warning signs of heart disease”

Women are more concerned about their heart health than men, so why is it still viewed as a male disease, asks Denis Kinane.

It is important to remember that today, 7.6 million people in the UK are living with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), every three minutes, someone dies from a heart and circulatory disease and every five minutes, someone is admitted to hospital due to a stroke.

Heart and circulatory diseases account for around a quarter of all deaths in the UK, with heart disease claiming more than 160,000 lives each year. A figure that could be significantly reduced through raising awareness of the causes and symptoms of CVDs – particularly among women whom are often misdiagnosed due to their symptoms often being attributed to other conditions.

While shocking, these statistics highlight the very real cost of CVDs. Yet, since the British Heart Foundation was founded, the number of deaths from CVD in the UK has fallen by half – demonstrating the vital role research and preventative testing can play.

The general public must know the importance of monitoring heart health, – diagnosing heart issues at an early stage is crucial- the main symptoms to spot and how certain lifestyle choices can significantly raise/reduce risk of heart disease.

One of the most worrying concerns surrounding CVD’s is that it is still perceived as a disease that primarily affects the male demographic. This is unfounded and incredibly damaging.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the UK , so it is essential women of every age recognise signs and seek immediate medical attention.

Professor Denis Kinane

In the UK over 3.6 million women live with a circulatory or heart disease while everyday heart attacks kill 77 women. This comes as research from Cignpost reveals women are more concerned about their heart health than men, as one in two say they are prepared to conduct heart health check-ups compared to only 40 per cent of men.

Women must continue to get tested for CVD, particularly following results from the British Heart Foundation that show women have a 50 per cent higher chance of receiving the wrong diagnosis following a heart attack than men.

One of the reasons why CVD has been viewed as a male disease and often misdiagnosed in women is due to them often having less recognisable heart attack symptoms, such as pain or discomfort in different parts of the upper body (back, neck, jaw, arms or stomach) and shortness of breath.

Given these symptoms are less recognisable and harder to attribute to heart health, women cannot afford to dismiss these warning signs, instead they should get a full heart screening.

For both sexes, one of the key causes of heart disease is poor blood circulation. When the flow of oxygen-rich blood is blocked or reduced, it can put significant strain on your heart, increasing the risk of heart attacks and heart failure. To maintain optimum heart health, circulation is vital as it ensures blood and oxygen can continuously reach every organ, allowing them to function correctly.

In order to maintain good circulation and prevent heart disease, Brits need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Key ways to do this are through regularly exercising, eating a healthy balanced diet, and staying active.

Quintessentially, one also should avoid foods that are high in salt, saturated fats and refined carbs, instead favouring a diet made up of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes. In doing so, data has suggested that you can lower the risk of CVD by up to 20 per cent.

Another leading cause of heart disease is smoking. According to the Food and Drug Administration, cigarette smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.

Smoking not only thickens your blood but also causes plaque to build up in your arteries causing blockages, and permanently damaging the heart and its surrounding blood vessels. It is estimated that one in eight CVD deaths can be attributed to smoking. Quitting smoking will significantly reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

Technology and early-stage testing is imperative for diagnosing heart disease. Discovering a health problem early can help people make better informed decisions about their health, improve the likelihood of successful treatment, and reduce the risk of long-term illness or fatality.

For example, in the case of heart disease, significant improvements can be made in patients’ lives (eating a healthier, more balanced diet and exercising more) by detecting the disease early and avoiding delays in care.

With the heart care waiting list 50 per cent higher than before the pandemic in England, it is essential the business community steps up and plays its part.

We have seen first-hand that diagnostic tests are becoming popular with many forward-thinking organisations, as identifying health problems early prevents staff from missing extensive periods of time due to illness, and a healthier workforce is a more productive workforce.

Having your blood pressure and heart health tested is easy and should be done regularly as it could save your life. If your company doesn’t offer testing, you can get tested at your local GP surgery, some pharmacies, and at health events. Or if you prefer, you can also test at home using a home testing kit.

While it is positive following the COVID pandemic that the general public is being far more wary of their overall health, displayed by research from Cignpost finding that 80 per cent of Brits have changed their health habits post COVID, with seven in 10 now willing to take diagnostic tests to support their wellbeing.

This uptrend must continue as the benefits of testing and monitoring cannot be overstated – early detection of cardiovascular disease can be the difference between life and death.

Professor Denis Kinane is an immunologist, cell biologist, infection, immunity and genomics specialist and founding scientist at the health company Cignpost.